148 



Third Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State 



of New York, on the Condition of the State Cabinet of Natural 



History, and the Historical and Antiquarian Collection annexed 



thereto. Made to the Senate, January 11, 1850. Albany. 8vo. — 



From the same. 

 Annali di Fisica dell Abbate Francesco Cav. Zantedeschi, Professore 



di Fisica, &c. Fascicolo IV. Padova, 1849-50. 8vo. — From 



Prof. Zantedeschi. 

 American Journal of Science and Arts. Second Series. No. 27. 



May, 1850. New Haven. 8vo. — From the Editors, Profs. 



Silliman and Dana. 

 Report to the Smithsonian Institution on the History of the Discovery 



of Neptune. By Benjamin Apthorp Gould, Jr. Washington, 



1850. 8vo. — From the Author. 

 Collection of the Laws of Patent Privileges of all the Countries of 



Europe, the United States of North America, and the Dutch West 



Indies. Published by Charles F. Loosey, Civil Engineer, &c. 



in Vienna. 1849. 8vo. — From the Publisher. 

 Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of 



America. New York, 1850. 4to. — From James Lenox, Esq. 



of New York. 



Professor Tucker read a paper on the probable effects of the 

 gold mines of California, deduced from the depreciation of the 

 precious metals caused by the discovery of America, 



Of the historj?^ of their depreciation our knowledge is not indeed 

 either precise or quite authentic, but enough is known to lead us to 

 conclusions that approach the truth. 



Professor T. stated, that in 1492, when America was discovered, 

 the quantity of gold and silver in Europe has been commonly esti- 

 mated at about 300 millions of dollars. According to Baron Hum- 

 boldt, whose authority is most to be relied on, the accession from the 

 American mines was, in one century (the 16th), 605 millions; in the 

 17th century the whole amount was 2.'^42 millions; and in little more 

 than another century (to 1803) it reached 5337 millions. If we add 

 to this the amount imported from Africa, the amounts drawn from the 

 mines of Europe and Siberia, and from the American mines since 

 1803, the total will be 8063 millions. Deducting from this amount 

 what has been sent to India and China, what has been lost, consumed 

 by wear or in manufactures, and there would remain 4663 millions 

 for the whole amount in Europe and America, of which about one- 

 third in value and one forty -sixth in quantity was supposed to be gold. 



